Circuit selector switch outlet receptacle



y 7, 1956 E. L. FAHLBERG 2,755,350

CIRCUIT SELECTOR SWITCH OUTLET RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E5 i j z 4 3 I 4 25 m g 26 IN V EN TOR.

Edward L. Fah n59 United States Patent Q CIRCUIT SELECTOR SWITCH OUTLET v RECEPTACLE Edward L. Fahlberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 1, 1952, Serial No. 312,628

6 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-51.05)

The present invention relates to improvements in electrical outlet receptacles, and has particular reference to a new and improved circuit selector switch outlet receptacle.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a novel electrical outlet receptacle which is selectively adjustable to be either under the control of a switch in its circuit, or to be energized independently of such switch.

Another object is to provide an electrical outlet receptacle which is adapted for connection in an electrical supply circuit including a control switch, and which is .rotatably adjustable selectively into one position wherein it is functionally in series with the switch or into another position wherein it is connected directly in the circuit for the supply of electrical energy.

A further object resides in the provision of a plurality of outlet receptacles in one assembly and each independently operable in the foregoing manner.

Still another object is to provide an electrical outlet receptacle of the foregoing character having load and fire means for effecting sharp adjustment of the receptacle from either position into the other and for holding the receptacle yieldably but definitely in the selected position.

A general object is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing character which is simple, compact, and inexpensive in construction, and eflicient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an outlet receptacle structure embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the structure.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the structure.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal transverse sectional views taken respectively along lines 4-4 and 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views taken respectively along lines 77 and 8-8' of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along broken line 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 10-40 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a schematic electrical diagram for one of the outlet receptacles of the structure.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of outlet receptacle.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the outlet receptacle structure, constituting the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is of the general type adapted to be mounted within a conventional outlet box (not shown) most commonly located in some wall of a building room for connection to a branch of the existing building electrical circuit. A portion of such circuit is illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein the supply lines are indi- 2,755,350 Patented July 17, 1956 ice cated at 12 and 14. Two branch lines 13 and 15 lead from the supply lines 12 and 14 for connection to the receptacle outlet structure, and in the line 15 is interposed a switch 16 which may be a conventional wall switch for controlling opening and closing of the circuit. As is common practice in circuits for houses and other buildings, various other branch outlet circuits may be under the control of the switch 16. For illustrative purposes, one other parallel outlet circuit is represented by branch lines 17 and 18 leading to some other outlet (not shown). It will be evident that opening of the switch 16 will disable the circuit across the lines 13 and 15, as well as the parallel circuit across the lines 17 and 18, and that closing of the switch will condition these circuits to serve their respective outlets.

The lines 13 and 15, of course, have terminal contacts or connections 19 and 20 at the outlet structure. Accord ing to the present invention, as more fully explained hereinafter, two other branch lines 21 and 22 lead from the supply lines 12 and 14 directly to the outlet structure, and have terminal contacts or connections 23 and 24 adapted when bridged to establish a circuit by-passing the switch 16, so as to be independent of control by the switch, which however, may remain in control of other parallel circuits, such as that exemplified by the lines 17 and 18.

Receptacle outlet structures of the general type here involved have one or more outlet receptacles, usually two, for attachment of separate electrical appliances, such for example, as electric lamps, kitchen appliances, radios,

etc., and, in the present instance, the structure is shown,

for illustration but without intending any limitation under the broad concept of the present invention, as comprising two such receptacles. Each receptacle has the conventional electrical female sockets or contact elements 25 and 26 in the form of U-shaped metallic spring clips adapted to receive in electrical conducting relationship the male prongs 27 of an attachment plug 28 on the end of an electric cord 29.

It will be understood that where plural outlet receptacles are provided, they may be connected in parallel so that each, independently of the other, may be brought under or removed from control of the switch 16, which switch may be regarded as a master switch for a plurality I of parallel circuits, including the circuits for the receptacles of any one outlet structure as well as any other parallel outlet structure.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the receptacle outlet structure comprises a main body or housing 30 of elongated form and constructed of electrical insulating material. A mounting plate or strap 31 is secured to the rear portion of the body. The strap 31 is U-shaped, with the end portions struck forwardly to define arms 32, and the ends of the arms struck at right angles to define attachment ears 33 for connection to the outlet box (not shown).

The arms 32 are provided with slots 34 for receiving lugs 34a formed on the ends of the body 30.

The main body 30 is formed with two parallel cylindrical recesses or bores 35 and 36 receiving two rotary plugs 37 and 38 also of electrical insulating material. Preferably, these plugs are alike in construction, and hence a description of one will suifice for both. Thus, each is formed at diametrically opposite sides of the center axis with deep slots or recesses 39 and 40 which open to the front face, and in which the clip contacts 25 and 26 are anchored at the base by means of countersunk screws 41 threaded in from the rear. A circular face disk42 of electrical insulating material is attached across the front end of the plug substantially to close the recesses 39 and 40, and is formed with access slots 43 in line with the open ends of the contacts 25 and 26 for insertion of the prongs 27 of the attachment plug 28. On its rear side, the face.

disk 42 is formed with a peripheral annular pilot flange 43a which snugly receives the contiguous end of the plug and has internal locking lugs 44 interfitting therewith to prevent relative rotation thercbetween, and which abuts against the front face of the main body 36 for purposes of assembly.

On its rear end, the plug (37, 38) is formed with an axial trunnion extension 45 which seats in a bearing recess 46 in the inner face of a back plate 47 attached to the rear of the main body 30, and is additionally formed in the peripheral edge with an arcuate groove 53 extending through slightly more than 90, and receiving a stop lug 49 projecting radially inwardly from the edge of body recess (35, 36). The mounting strap 31 extends across the back plate 47, and is formed with a central opening 50 receiving a rearwardly projecting circular boss 51 on the plate.

With each of the two plugs 37 and 38 constructed as described above, the parts are held together in assembled relation by means of pivot pins 52. Thus, each pin 52 has a head 53 countersunk in the front face of the disk 42, and extends axially therethrough and thence through the associated plug, extension 45, back plate 47 and mounting strap 31, the rear end being suitably shouldered to confine the parts together. By reason of the foregoing assembly of parts, the plugs 37 and 33 are confined for independent rotary adjustment through 90' as determined by the grooves 48 and lugs 49. To facilitate such adjustment, the face disks 42 are knurled so as to constitute in effect hand knobs, and suitable indicia may be afiixed to the encircling areas of the main block 30 to indicate the two limit positions.

It will be understood that the terminal contacts 19, 20, 23 and 24 are arrangedin the structure so that each plug in A position will connect the clip contacts 25 and 26 directly across the main supply lines 12 and 14, and in B position will connect them in series with and under the control of the master control switch 16.

More particularly, the intermediate portion of the body 30 adjacent its rear face is slotted or cut away as indicated at 53a to the interior of the recesses 35 and 36. Two metallic conductor elements 54 and 55 are mounted at opposite sides of the body and have intermediate binding posts 56 and 57 by which the electric lines 12 and 14 may be attached. The conductor element 54 has two arms (corresponding to the lines 13 and 21) which extend into the upper recess 35 and the ends of which are struck forwardly at right angles, as illustrated in Fig. 9, to define the terminal contacts 19 and 23 for that recess. Similarly, in the double-plug arrangement as shown, the conductor element 54 has a duplicate set of arms extending into the lower recess 36 to define the terminal contacts 19 and 23 for that recess. The conductor element 55 has two projecting arms in each instance corresponding to the line 22 which extend oppositely into the respective recesses 35 and 36 to define therein the terminal contacts 24 disposed in diametrically opposed relation to the contacts 23.

Inserted in the rear face of the main body 30 substantially over the inner ends of recesses 35 and 36, and held in place by the back plate 47, is an insulating plate 58. This plate is apertured to receive the trunnions 45 and is spaced forwardly from the inner surface of the back plate 47 to define therewith a narrow space 63 in which a fiat metallic conductor element 59 is enclosed. This conductor element has an integral sleeve 60 projecting outwardly through the boss 51 and internally threaded for the reception of a binding post 61 for attachment on the supply line 15. Preferably, a metallic washer 62 rigid with the sleeve 60 underlies the head 61 for good electrical contact. Within the space 63, the conductor element 59 has arms 64 projecting in opposite directions to serve the respective plugs 37 and 38, and the ends of these arms are struck forwardly into the recesses 35 and 36 to define the terminal contacts 20.

The clip contacts 25 and 26 have in each instance a conductor arm-65 which first extends transversely along the bottom of the associated one of the clip recesses 39 and 40, then forwardly to a slot 66 in the peripheral wall of the plug, and then outwardly into the slot where it is configurated to define a terminal contact 67 for engagement with the associated fixed terminal contacts. Peripheral clearance 68 is provided in the body 30 to accommodate the fixed terminal contacts and rotary adjustment of the movable terminal contacts. If desired, the contacts may be formed with disengageable detent means tending to prevent separation after having been brought into electrical engagement.

In operation, it will be evident that upon rotation of the upper plug 37 into the position shown in Fig. 8, the contact terminals 23 and 24 will be in electrical contact with the contact clips 25 and 26 to establish an electrical circuit independent of the switch 16. In this position of adjustment, electrical energy will be available for the particular appliance attached to this plug receptacle regardless of whether or not the switch 16 is closed and therefore regardless of whether or not any of the other appliances in parallel circuits are electrically connected. Consequently, if it should be desired to control one or more appliances jointly from the switch 16 rather than individually, while still leaving one or more other appliances electrically connected, this can be done through appropriate adjustment of either or both of the plugs 37 and 38 into B position. On the other hand, if the plug 37 should be rotated through for example into the corresponding position of the plug 38 in Fig. 8, then the clip terminals 25 and 26 will be brought into electrical engagement with the contact terminals 19 and 20 to establish the circuit through the switch 16. In this instance, the switch will be in control just as in any conventional outlet receptacle.

Figs. 12 and 13 show an optional modified construction in which the pins 52 are splined to the plugs 37 and 38 for rotation therewith and extend completely through the back plate 47 to the rear of the mounting strap 31. Spring clips 69 are affixed to the strap and square cams '70 are fixed on the pins and engaged by the clips. As a result, upon adjustment of either plug 37 or 38 through slightly more than 45, it will be urged by the associated spring clips 69 to complete its rotation through the remainder of the 90 range, and will be located and held in the desired operative position.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having a cylindrical recess with two sets of opposed terminal contacts therein, one set of said contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch and the other set of said contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, a receptacle plug rotatably confined in said recess and having two receptacle contacts accessible at one thereof for insertion of the prongs of an attachment plug, said receptacle contacts having electrical connection with said terminal contacts through portions integral with said receptacle contacts and being movable by rotary adjustment of said plug selectively into engagement with either one or the other of said first mentioned sets of terminal contacts, means for limiting the rotation ofsaid plug to define at the opposite limits of movement the operative positions of said plug, non-circular cam means on said plug, and a resilient member rigid with said body and cooperating with said cam means to retain the same and said receptacle plug in either selected position of adjustment thereof.

2. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having a cylindrical recess with two sets of diametrically opposite terminal contacts mounted in the inner peripheral surface thereof, one set of contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch and the other set of contacts be ing adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, said sets of contacts being angularly spaced,

a receptacle plug rotatably confined in said recess and having receptacle contacts accessible at one end thereof for insertion of the prongs of an attachment plug, said contacts having electrical connection respectively with two terminal contacts mounted on the periphery of said plug and movable by rotary adjustment of said plug selectively into engagement with either one or the other of said first mentioned sets of terminal contacts, and means for limiting the rotation of said plug to the degree of angular spacing between said first mentioned sets of contacts to define at the opposite limits of movement the operative positions of said plug.

3. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having a cylindrical recess with two sets of opposed terminal contacts therein, one set of said contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch and the other set of said contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, a receptacle plug rotatably confined in said recess and having two receptacle contacts accessible at one end thereof for insertion of the prongs of an attachment plug, said receptacle contacts having electrical connection respectively with two terminal contacts mounted on and movable by rotary adjustment of said plug selectively into engagement with either one or the other of said first mentioned sets of terminal contacts, means for limiting the rotation of said plug to define at the opposite limits of movement the operative positions of said plug, and load-and-fire means for controlling adjustment of said plug from either position into the other position, said load-and-fire means comprising a non-circular cam fixed with respect to said plug and a spring clamp fixed with respect to said body and embracing said cam to urge said cam and plug toward either of the alternative positions of the plug upon initiation of rotation thereof and to yieldably retain the same in such position.

4. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising, in combination, a. body having a cylindrical recess therein, two sets of diametrically opposite terminal contacts mounted in the inner surface of said body in angularly spaced relation, one of said sets of contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch and the other of said sets of contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, a receptacle plug disposed in said recess and having one end thereof extending outwardly of said body, receptacle contacts rigid with said plug and accessible from said one end thereof for engagement by the prongs of an attachment plug, said contacts having electrical connection respectively with two terminal contacts mounted on the outer surface of said plug, said terminal contacts being movable upon rotary adjustment of said plug in said recess selectively into engagement with one or the other of said first mentioned sets of terminal contacts, a pivot pin extending axially through said plug and the portion of said body defining the bottom of the recess therein, said pin defining the rotational axis of said plug and having headed end portions for retaining said plug in said recess, non-circular cam means rigid with one end of said pin, and a resilient member rigid with said body and coacting with said cam means to retain the same and said receptacle plug in either selected position of adjustment thereof, the outwardly projecting end of said plug providing a fingerpiece by means of which said plug can be rotated.

5. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having a recess therein, a first conducting member having a terminal on the exterior of said body and providing a pair of contacts on the inner peripheral surface of said recess spaced ninety degrees apart, a second conducting member having a terminal on the exterior of said body and a single contact on the inner peripheral surface of said recess spaced ninety degrees from one of said pair of contacts, a third conducting member having a terminal on the exterior of said body and a single contact on the inner peripheral surface of said recess disposed intermediate the contact of said second conducting member and the other of said pair of contacts of said first conducting member, the terminals of said first and second conducting members being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch, and the terminals of said first and third conducting members being adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, a receptacle plug rotatably confined in said recess and having receptacle contacts accessible at one end thereof for the reception of the prongs of an attachment plug, said contacts having electrical connection respectively with two terminal contacts diametrically disposed on the periphery of said plug and movable upon rotary adjustment of said plug selectively into engagement with one or the other of two sets of terminal contacts, said sets of terminal contacts comprising respectively one of said pair of contacts of said first conducting member and the contact of said second conducting member and the other of said pair of contacts of said first conducting member and the contact of said third conducting member, and means for limiting the rotation of said plug to ninety degrees to define at the opposite limits of movement the operative positions of said plug.

6. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising in combination a body having a cylindrical recess with two sets of opposed terminal contacts mounted on the inner peripheral surface thereof, one set of contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit under the control of a switch and the other set of contacts being adapted for connection in a supply circuit shunting said switch, said sets of contacts being angularly spaced, a receptacle plug disposed in said recess and having two receptacle contacts accessible at one end thereof for the reception of the prongs of an attachment plug, a pair of contacts on the outer peripheral surface of said plug and having electrical connection respectively with said terminal contacts, a pivot pin extending axially through said plug and the portion of said body defining the bottom of the recess therein, said pin defining the rotational axis of said plug and having headed end portions for retaining said plug in said recess, and means for limiting the rotation of said plug to define at the opposite limits of movement, the operative positions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,150,112 Hadaway et al Aug. 17, 1915 1,538,157 Benjamin May 19, 1925 1,669,666 Laub May 15, 1928 1,700,437 Hubbell Jan. 29, 1929 1,870,762 Winter Aug. 9, 1932 2,088,355 Wehming July 27, 1937 2,454,221 Seals Nov. 16, 1948 2,498,805 Gurevsky Feb. 28, 1950 

